Best London Bus Routes for Sightseeing

London's ordinary red buses can be one of the best-value sightseeing tools in the city. They are not hop-on-hop-off tour buses, there is no commentary and traffic can make them slow, but that is exactly why they are useful: you travel the same streets Londoners use, sit above the traffic on many double-deckers and can link major sights for the price of a normal TfL bus journey.

Updated August 2026. This guide focuses on regular Transport for London services, not commercial sightseeing operators. Routes, diversions and stopping arrangements can change, so use TfL Go or the live TfL journey planner immediately before travelling rather than treating any printed route description as permanent.

Quick answer: which bus should a visitor try?

If you want one simple upper-deck ride, route 9 is a strong west-to-centre option for Kensington, the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly and the Trafalgar Square/Aldwych area. Route 24 is useful for a north-to-centre sweep through Camden, the West End, Whitehall, Westminster and Victoria/Pimlico. Route 139 is handy for linking north-west London and the West End with Trafalgar Square and Waterloo. Route 453 gives a long cross-city ride through central London and Westminster, while route 88 can work well for a Westminster-to-West-End perspective.

Do not try to collect routes like attractions. Pick the bus that naturally fits the places you already plan to visit. A 25-minute segment through landmark-heavy streets is usually better than sitting through a two-hour end-to-end journey simply because the route is famous online.

Ordinary TfL bus versus hop-on-hop-off tour bus

A normal TfL bus is public transport. You pay the standard bus fare, there is no guaranteed seat, no guide, no sightseeing commentary and the driver will not wait while you photograph a landmark. A commercial hop-on-hop-off bus is a tourism product with a set visitor circuit, commentary and a much higher ticket price.

For first-time visitors, the normal bus works best when you already understand roughly where you are going. Use it to connect two areas while enjoying the view. If you want a narrated orientation with minimal planning, a commercial tour may still suit you better.

Route 9: Kensington, Hyde Park and the West End

Route 9 is one of the most useful sightseeing-friendly ordinary routes because it crosses a string of west and central London districts visitors actually use. Depending on the exact stop and current diversions, the central portion can put you close to Kensington, the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Aldwych.

A practical visitor use is to board after exploring South Kensington or Kensington, stay upstairs through the park-edge and West End streets, then get off around Trafalgar Square or Aldwych for Covent Garden, the National Gallery or the Strand. It is especially good when the weather is poor enough that a long walk is unattractive but you still want to see the streets rather than disappear underground.

Route 24: Camden to Westminster

Route 24 is useful because it joins very different parts of London in one continuous ride. A central section runs from the Camden side of town through the West End and Whitehall towards Westminster, Victoria and Pimlico. That makes it a good way to combine a morning around Camden with an afternoon around Parliament and Westminster Abbey, or to travel in the reverse direction without changing.

For sightseeing, the most rewarding section is usually the central one rather than the complete route. Around Whitehall and Westminster, look for Trafalgar Square, government buildings and the approach to Parliament. If traffic is heavy, get off and walk once you reach the dense Westminster cluster.

Route 139: Abbey Road and the West End to Waterloo

Route 139 is a useful option for travellers staying north-west of the centre or visiting the Abbey Road area. Its central path connects the West End with Trafalgar Square and the Waterloo side of the Thames. That makes it a practical way to turn an otherwise ordinary transfer into a city-viewing ride.

It is particularly useful when your itinerary already includes Oxford Street or Regent Street and you want to continue towards the South Bank. From Waterloo you can walk to the London Eye, Southbank Centre, National Theatre or continue along the river. Check the exact boarding stop in TfL Go because central stop locations can be displaced by roadworks, events and traffic management.

Route 453: a long cross-central view

Route 453 is valuable when you want a longer ordinary-bus ride through central London rather than a short transfer. The route crosses major central streets and passes through the Westminster/Trafalgar Square zone before continuing beyond the tourist core. For a visitor, the best strategy is usually to ride the landmark-dense middle rather than staying aboard to the terminus.

Use it when your start and finish points already lie on its corridor. The moment the bus stops being useful to your day, get off. London's bus network is so frequent and interconnected that there is little benefit in completing a route for its own sake.

Route 88: useful for Westminster and the West End

Route 88 can be a good alternative when you are moving between south-west/Westminster areas and the West End. It provides another chance to see central streets from above ground and can be less mentally demanding than changing Tube lines for a relatively short journey.

As with all of these suggestions, treat the route number as a starting point rather than a promise that every landmark will be visible from your seat. Temporary diversions are common around marches, state events, roadworks and major sporting or cultural events.

Why old London bus-route lists go stale

Many travel pages still recommend historic or previously scenic patterns as if London routes never change. Route 11, for example, has been altered over time, and the old heritage Routemaster operation associated with route 15 is not a dependable everyday sightseeing plan. The lesson is broader: never choose a bus solely because a years-old article says it passes a particular landmark.

Use current TfL information on the day. If the live route no longer matches the attraction sequence you want, choose another bus. The network is too large to be loyal to a famous route number.

How much does a London bus cost?

TfL's current visitor information lists a standard single bus journey at £1.75 when using pay as you go. Buses are cashless: use an accepted contactless bank card or mobile wallet, Oyster or another valid TfL ticket/product. Touch in on the yellow reader when you board; unlike the Tube, you do not touch out when leaving a bus.

The Hopper fare allows unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of first touching in, provided you use the same eligible payment method. That makes short sightseeing hops surprisingly practical: you can get off for a quick transfer and board another bus without automatically paying another full bus fare if you remain within the Hopper window. TfL daily/weekly capping can also limit pay-as-you-go spending depending on how you travel.

Contactless and Oyster: avoid the common payment mistake

If two people are travelling together, each person needs a separate contactless card/device or Oyster card. Do not tap one bank card twice for two adults. If you use a phone or watch linked to a physical bank card, keep using the same device for the whole journey pattern; TfL can treat the device and physical card as different payment tokens.

International contactless cards often work, but foreign transaction fees depend on your bank. If you are unsure, Oyster can make costs easier to separate from your normal banking. Check TfL's current payment guidance before relying on a specific overseas card.

Where to sit for the best view

On a double-decker, the front seats upstairs give the broadest view, but they are popular and cannot be guaranteed. Do not block the stairs waiting for them. A window seat on either side can still be excellent, and the best side changes constantly as the road bends.

If you are unfamiliar with the city, follow your progress in TfL Go or another map so you know when to move downstairs. London buses announce and display upcoming stops, but busy central traffic can make it difficult to descend at the last second.

Best time of day for sightseeing by bus

Late morning and early afternoon are often easier than weekday commuting peaks. At rush hour, buses can be crowded and the upstairs front seats may be taken before you board. Central traffic can also turn a scenic ride into a long queue of brake lights.

Sunday mornings can feel calmer in parts of central London, although road closures and events are still possible. After dark, the upper deck can be atmospheric around illuminated streets, but reflections on the windows make photography harder.

Accessibility on London buses

TfL states that all London bus routes are served by low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. Drivers can lower the bus and deploy a ramp where required. Wheelchair users have priority for the designated wheelchair space. TfL also provides detailed guidance for mobility scooters and other mobility aids.

For families, buggies are welcome, but they must not block the aisle and may need to be folded or moved when the wheelchair space is required. TfL specifically notes that wheelchair users have priority over that space. If you leave a bus because you cannot safely share the space, the Hopper fare may help with the next bus if the payment conditions and time window are met.

Travelling with children

The upper deck is exciting for children, but treat the stairs seriously. Move downstairs before your stop, not while the bus is braking hard in central traffic. Keep young children seated where possible and do not let them stand at the front window.

For a family sightseeing ride, choose a short, clear section with a definite destination at the end: for example, Camden to Westminster, or the West End towards Waterloo. A child who is delighted for 25 minutes can be thoroughly bored after 90.

A simple one-hour bus sightseeing plan

A good first experiment is to build the bus into a real transfer. Start near Kensington or Hyde Park, take route 9 towards central London, get off around Trafalgar Square/Aldwych, then walk through Covent Garden or down Whitehall. Alternatively, use route 24 to connect Camden with Westminster and finish at Parliament Square.

If your first bus is delayed or diverted, abandon the plan rather than forcing it. London rewards flexible navigation. The objective is to see more of the city while moving between places you already want to visit.

When the Tube is still the better choice

Use the Tube or rail when time matters more than the view, especially for long cross-city journeys during heavy traffic. Buses are excellent for short and medium central journeys, but surface congestion is unpredictable. If you have a fixed theatre time, airport train or timed attraction booking, build in a substantial margin or switch to rail.

A good rule is: bus when the journey itself is part of the experience; rail when arrival time is the priority.

Live planning: TfL Go matters more than any route list

Before boarding, check TfL Go for the stop, destination display and live arrival information. The app can show nearby bus stops and expected arrivals, and TfL's accessibility tools can help with step-free planning across the wider network. Always check the destination shown on the front of the bus, because short workings and diversions can mean a vehicle does not travel the complete usual route.

Major events around Westminster, Trafalgar Square, the City and the West End can change buses at short notice. A current app is therefore more useful than memorising route maps before your trip.

Useful nearby guides

For a wider transport strategy, see our London practical information. If your bus ride finishes in Westminster, continue with the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. For an above-ground alternative on the river, see London Cable Car & Thames Cruises.

Official TfL links to check before you travel

• TfL Go and live journey planning — check nearby stops, arrivals and current route information.
• TfL visitor fare and ticket comparison — confirm current bus fares and payment options.
• Contactless and Oyster — payment history, card guidance and fare information.
• TfL bus accessibility and buggy guidance — current low-floor, wheelchair-space and family information.

Bottom line

Ordinary London buses are not a replacement for a guided sightseeing tour, but they are a brilliant way to make necessary travel more enjoyable. Pick a route that fits your actual itinerary, sit upstairs when you can, use contactless or Oyster correctly, and check the live TfL route before boarding. Route numbers are useful; live information is authoritative.